Arron Nyamayaro
POLICE have commended the High Court and the public for their role in combating crime following the conviction and sentencing of two robbery suspects, Tanaka Java (42) and Ronald Rubare (28), to 12 years’ imprisonment each.
The two were sentenced at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.
In a statement, Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri, spokesperson for the CID, said the conviction followed a robbery incident that occurred on February 7, this year, at about midday at a money transfer agency in Harare.
She said the accused persons, together with an accomplice who is still at large, waylaid the complainant and threatened her with a pistol before forcing her to open a safe at the agency’s booth.
They allegedly stole ZAR26,600 and US$5,631, before fleeing the scene.
“After the complainant screamed for help, members of the public rushed to her assistance,” said Det Insp Muteweri.
“They gave chase and managed to apprehend Java, from whom ZAR10,000 was recovered. “They also alerted police officers, who were on patrol, leading to a subsequent pursuit and the arrest of Rubare.”
Det Insp Muteweri added that the duo appeared before Magistrate Mapfumo last week, where they were convicted and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment each.
Meanwhile, Darlington Simango Zimba (19) was also convicted and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment on Friday for contravening Section 131 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (Chapter 9:23).
Zimba pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard that he and accomplices unlawfully entered a businesswoman’s premises in Ruwa on September 19, this year, and stole US$135,000, taking advantage of the complainant’s absence.
The matter came to light two days later when the complainant returned from a business trip and discovered that the money had been stolen.
CID Highlands investigations led to Zimba’s arrest, while police said they were still tracing an outstanding suspect, David Simango Zimba.
